AROUND THE COASTS
AROUND THE COASTS NEWS FOR THE NATION’S FISHERMEN
NOAA
The Department of Commerce and NOAA are seeking recommendations for a new national seafood trade strategy.
Nation / World
“The agency will work closely with interagency partners to develop a comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy.” — Chris Oliver, NMFS
Washington gears up for new U.S. seafood trade policy Call goes out to fishermen and seafood industry to document overseas barriers
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federal Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force now organizing at the Department of Commerce is seeking recommendations for a new seafood trade policy called for in President Trump’s May 7 executive order. In a July 10 notice in the Federal Register, NOAA officials asked for written advice “from interested parties on how best to achieve the objectives of the Seafood Trade Task Force as described in the executive order. NOAA Assistant Administrator Chris Oliver has said “the strategy will identify opportunities to improve access to foreign 8 National Fisherman \ September 2020
markets through trade policy and negotiations; resolve technical barriers to U.S. seafood exports; and otherwise support fair market access for U.S. seafood products.” The order aims to expand sustainable U.S. seafood production with “more efficient and predictable aquaculture permitting” and research and development efforts, according to NOAA officials. They also foresee “regulatory reform to maximize commercial fi shing,” and enforcing food safety and quality requirements on seafood imports that do not meet U.S. standards. There is plenty in the order that sounds
good to the U.S. industry, from New England groundfi sh fleets chafi ng under years of restrictions, the Gulf of Mexico shrimpers undercut by years of low-priced and lowerquality imports. The new survey sought for the seafood task force looks for direction on pursuing the overarching trade strategy. Among questions for seafood businesses, the agency is asking for specific details on what kind of seafood products they are exporting and to what countries, along with how they hope to fi nd more customers in other nations. “Are there issues in the markets that you currently export to that limit your exports, or unnecessarily increase the costs for your exports?” the notice asks. The agency likewise asks for specific examples of barriers and “issues that affect the competitiveness of your product in foreign markets.” NOAA looked to have those answers in hand by Aug. 1. — Kirk Moore www.nationalfisherman.com
